1. Randy Lerner must put his hand in his pocket again It sounds incredibly simplistic, and throwing money at a situation is not always the most attractive solution but manager Paul Lambert sorely needs reinforcements. Experience and leadership is required in defence and midfield to ease the pressure on the younger heads. After spending £22 million in the summer, and not having much to show for it, Lambert must get these signings absolutely spot on.

2. Learn how to defend set pieces When Martin O'Neill walked out on Villa at the start of the 2010/11 campaign he must have taken the defensive manual with him, for their tendency to concede from set pieces is not exclusive to Lambert. Gérard Houllier and Alex McLeish suffered the same problems and every team will now be targeting Villa with corners and free kicks after their weakness was so publicly exposed by Bradford City. The return to fitness of Richard Dunne, the warhorse they are crying out for, is crucial.

3. Lambert must swallow his pride and bring back the experienced players Lambert has told Stephen Warnock and Alan Hutton they have no future at Villa Park but is the club's plight so bad they cannot be considered? Joe Bennett struggled again and has a tendency to try and dribble his way out of trouble that he frequently creates for himself. His confidence looks shot while Warnock, an England international, is so out in the cold he needs treatment for frostbite. Barry Bannan has emerged as the most popular scapegoat for the Holte End and also must be taken out of the firing line.

4. Build a team around Charles N'Zogbia The penny appears to have finally dropped for the £9.5 million signing and his last two performances in the first half against West Brom and Bradford respectively will give Lambert some much needed cause for optimism. He has impressed in a free role and must build on his recent promise if Villa are to have any hope of escaping relegation. A few goals would be helpful too.

5. Hope and pray that Christian Benteke stays fit Amid the wreckage of Villa's nightmare defeat to Bradford, Benteke did register his 11th goal of the season for the club. The £8 million signing has been a ray of light in a troubled campaign and you have to fear the worst if he was to get injured. While he remains raw and sometimes makes the wrong decisions his importance to the season cannot be understated.